Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research
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AMBER Researchers funded by Research Ireland New Foundations Awards to support community-engaged research. Professor Joseph Roche of Trinity College Dublin received funding for a project in the science engagement space and Dr Ian Major of Technological University of the Shannon for a project in the sustainable materials area.
Funding was announced today by Research Ireland for 63 New Foundations awards, with a total investment of €754,352, to support community-engaged research across Ireland. The New Foundations programme supports researchers from all disciplines to undertake research, networking, dissemination and capacity-building activities in partnership with community, voluntary, cultural and public bodies.
The programme is designed to support meaningful collaborations between academia and communities, and to generate knowledge that responds to real-world needs and societal challenges.
Ian Major received funding of €9,990 for Project ‘Building an Interdisciplinary Network for Biomass-Derived Chemical Building Blocks for Sustainable Materials in Ireland’ which explores how Irish-grown crops, agricultural residues, and forestry waste can be transformed into sustainable materials such as foams, resins, and coatings, thus reducing reliance on fossil-based chemicals.
Joseph Roche received funding of €10,000 for Project ‘Mapping Ireland’s Learning Ecosystems: A shared infrastructure for science engagement’ which will explore the infrastructure underpinning Ireland’s science engagement ecosystems.
Welcoming the announcement, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said:
“The New Foundations programme enables researchers to work in close partnership with communities and public bodies to address a range of complex societal challenges. These awards support early-stage collaborative research, generating knowledge and evidence to inform national policy and deliver meaningful impact for people and communities across Ireland and beyond. I would like to congratulate all the awardees, and I look forward to seeing where their projects lead.”
| Project title | Lead researcher | Lead researcher HEI/RPO | Co-PI | Co-PI HEI/RPO | Summary of research | Partner | Funding amount | Co-funder |
| Building an Interdisciplinary Network for Biomass-Derived Chemical Building Blocks for Sustainable Materials in Ireland | Ian Major | Technological University of the Shannon | Dr Patrick Quille | Munster Technological University | This project explores how Irish-grown crops, agricultural residues, and forestry waste can be transformed into sustainable materials such as foams, resins, and coatings, thus reducing reliance on fossil-based chemicals. It focuses on identifying the best use of land for bio-based inputs without undermining food security. No food crops will be diverted; instead, the project targets underused biomass and crop residues. By linking plant traits with chemical potential, this cross-disciplinary collaboration will support smarter land use, increased farming income, rural diversification, and a circular, low-carbon economy – aligning with national climate, innovation, and bioeconomy goals. | N/A | €9,990.00 | N/A |
| Mapping Ireland’s Learning Ecosystems: A shared infrastructure for science engagement | Joseph Roche | Trinity College Dublin | Liz Coleman | University of Galway | This feasibility study will explore the infrastructure underpinning Ireland’s science engagement ecosystems. While Ireland boasts a rich array of science engagement activities, fragmentation across regions and sectors limits collaborative, equitable participation. Through interdisciplinary stakeholder mapping and regional participatory workshops involving academia, civil society, and cultural and community organisations, this project will investigate what enables or constrains these learning ecosystems. This will enhance knowledge exchange and identify feasible, inclusive, and impactful infrastructural supports for the future. The goal is to visualise a more connected, equitable landscape, one where participation is embedded, not episodic, and opportunity is a shared national commitment. | N/A | €10,000.00 | N/A |
Fourteen of this year’s awards were co-funded by a range of Government departments and agencies across six thematic strands, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Irish Aid), Department of Children, Disability and Equality, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, the Policing and Community Safety Authority, the Heritage Council, and the Electoral Commission (An Coimisiún Toghcháin).
AMBER has a strong emphasis on collaboration. Central to AMBER’s research remit are collaborative projects performed with industry partners, and working with academic, industry and wider stakeholder on international and national research programmes.
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